Our Sunkissed Past

I wasn't in Pomona to see the citrus groves eaten up by new housing and development. If I had been, I'm sure I would have been plenty sad. My Pomona-native friend Jen told me that she still laments the last strawberry patch in Pomona to go, which was located on the corner of Garey and Bonita -- where brand new homes now stand.

When I went to the Pomona Library's Special Collections room last week, I found out that the house we live in has a close connection to the citrus industry. It turns out that a Mr. "J.C." X lived in our house from 1911 when it was built to sometime around his death in 1938 at the age of 72. J.C. was an orange grower and an officer in the LaVerne Citrus Growers Association, alongside familiar names like R.K. Pitzer. J.C. was born in Wisconsin in 1861. His parents Anton and Agatha had immigrated from Wurtenberg, Germany in 1849, after the third of their five boys was born. Anton was a pioneer farmer in Wisconsin and then in Nebraska where Anton died at the age of 84. J.C.'s mother Agatha was 20 years younger than his father, but died the year before his dad did. With the 5 boys she had to raise, it's no wonder.

J.C. married his wife Mary Adelia in 1888. In 1890, they moved to Salem, South Dakota where J.C. was in the grain business. J.C. was the first city clerk of Salem, and later became their assessor. Mary Adelia was third generation Irish. The couple had 3 children together: Hazel who was born in 1889 and died in 1917 in Pomona when she was 26 years old; Young Verner who was born in 1890 and died in South Dakota when he was 9 years old; and Eben who was born in 1893 and died in 1958 in Claremont when he was 62 years old. In 1908, J.C. moved his family to Pomona. They built our Lincoln Park home in 1911. J.C. was described in a local history book as a man of "correspondingly broad and wholesome views and takes his recreation in hunting and fishing sports." He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Knights Templar and attended Trinity Unity Methodist Church. He was commended for being single minded in his business pursuits and interested in the general welfare of the community.

Sometime before 1940, J.C.'s family sold our Lincoln Park house and moved to Claremont. I don't know whether J.C. survived the move, since he died in 1938. But it does seem that the "moving to Claremont" thing was already happening back then. And at their age, I don't think they were doing it for the school district. The family moved to neighboring addresses on Live Oak Canyon Road in Claremont, with Mary Adelia lived at one home and son Eben lived at the home immediately next door.

I drove up to Live Oak Canyon one day and found two large, somewhat glamorous, old Hollywood type homes at each address, both mediterranean in style. The home where Mary Adelia last lived was called "Casa de Luna" in tilework at the entrance. Additional tilework described the home (in Spanish) as "a little closer to heaven." As it turned out for Mary Adelia who died in 1940, it was a bit closer to heaven. But then I started wondering if this phrase was not an early comparison of Claremont to Pomona? What got to me personally about their Claremont home was that our beloved dog Luna died a year after we moved to Pomona. Not that I believe in spooky coincidental stuff or anything like that....

From what I can tell, Live Oak Canyon is both a road and a lifestyle. The street itself is a small cul de sac in a canyon above Baseline to the west of Towne (it's just west of the Webb School). The street is chock full of oak and olive trees. The most magnificent part of the street is the road's namesake: a huge live oak tree literally sitting in the middle of the street near the top of the road. The small service road between the X families' two homes also has an oak tree smack dab in the middle. Lovely, older, now-million-dollar-plus homes line the street, which has no sidewalks --in typical canyon fashion. This road must have been an enclave of successful citrus growers at one point, being above and surrounded by groves. It's still fairly isolated and along one of the small, off-shoot roads there is a sign that says, "smile, you're on camera."

My biggest realization in driving up to Live Oak Canyon is that J.C. and Mary Adelia were certainly the ones to plant the California live oak tree that dominates our backyard. The Pomona Historical Society told me that most of the old trees were planted by former owners, not in the ground already. This tree is my favorite thing about our house. These days when I look up at our grand old oak tree, I find myself thinking of the X family doing the same.

As it happens, the Live Oak Canyon home were Mary Adelia lived is on the market with a sale pending for $1,250,000. If you're interested in seeing the property, click on the below link, then click on "Geoff's properties" and then click on the one listed as SOLD (not pending) at 1,250,000:http://www.geoffhamill.com/properties.htm

My ultimate goal is to find a photograph of J.C. and his family with our house in the background. Son Eben's 1958 obituary offered some clues as to living family members who might have old photos. The obit referred to Eben as a "Valley citrus leader." Before making the predictable move to Claremont, Eben lived at an address in Pomona on Holt at San Antonio. Back then, Holt was lined with stately homes, not 99 cent stores and sleazy motels. Eben was a graduate of Pomona High, attended Occidental College, and was trained and associated with dad J.C. in the citrus biz. At one point, Eben owned 50 acres of oranges and lemons and was "an authority on water supplies and development." He was a director of various water and citrus companies and associations, as well as of the Claremont Chapter of the American National Red Cross. Eben's wife Thora Jessen didn't die until the year 2000 at the age of 99 years old. Too bad I missed her. They had children, but I don't know yet if any of them are alive. I found several possible family members through free ancestry services on the internet and internet telephone directories. I'll keep you posted.

As for how this ties into our children? Well, in driving up to the old citrus grove area where the X family last resided, I discovered a wonderful park dedicated to LaVerne's citrus growing past: Heritage Park. It's like any normal park, except immediately next door to the grass area is one of the only surviving orange groves and children are free to explore there. Also preserved there is one of the oldest homes in LaVerne, an historic barn and retired citrus growing equipment. In short, it's an outdoor museum dedicated to La Verne's citrus growing past. Not only are they home to concerts in the park every other Sunday night June through Sept, but they host a two week long Pumpkin Patch Festival, a "U pick oranges" event on Saturdays from January thru March, a "spring squeeze" and their "Hands on History" events March thru June. Here's a really interesting article on the park: www.ulv.edu/ctimes/web_exclusives_stories/springsqueeze.htm.

Heritage Park is located off of Wheeler above Baseline. You can't miss it if you go up Wheeler from Baseline and look for the signs on your right. While you're up there, picture in your mind that all the modern housing in the area was once citrus groves. The vistas must have been gorgeous. No wonder the fruit of the region was referred to as sun kissed.

P.S. to Jen: there's a surviving strawberry patch at Towne and Baseline. Next time you're down from San Francisco, we'll take the kids.

Parks: The Good, the Bad and the Shady - Part I

There's no shortage of parks in our area, although most do not provide merely enough shade for our hot climate. As the mother of a boy, I've had go to parks more frequently and stay at them much longer than I ever imagined. Going to a park often entails squinting from the glaring sun and grumbling to myself, and anyone who will listen, about why the play equipment isn't shaded by trees.

There's a unique park in Los Angeles called Aidan's Place which is designed for handicapped elementary school children, which makes it perfect for your average toddler. Frankly, parks should all be constructed so that children can not hurt themselves, and so that those with handicaps can use them as well. Aidan's Place has roofing over most of the equipment, as well as a tarp-shaded sand box. If you are ever in the Westwood area, it's worth taking your kid there, plus it has a nice little story behind it's creation. http://www.shanesinspiration.org/overview/aidians-place.asp

Pomona boasts 25 parks. For a listing of all Pomona parks with pictures, click here and go to the bottom of the page: http://pomona.vpi.net/city_departments/community_services/
I've only been to 3 of them. As I explore more of them, I'll update this listing. Too bad we're not talking restaurants.

1. Lincoln Park. This park is nice and safe. The setting is gorgeous, a circular park surrounded by stately old homes and lit with old fashioned fixtures. We don't go there as much as we used to, since they put in those mysterious wood chips. But then again, I don't take my child into the hardware section at Home Depot either, as the dust can't be good for developing lungs. I've been reassured by the City that the wood chips are not chemically treated (as most outdoor wood products are, specifically with arsenic). They still make me sneeze, and a couple of children broke out in a strange rash just after they were put in. Over time, the wood chips have picked up lots of trash, which doesn't get cleaned out since it's so hard to tell the trash apart from the wood chips. The wood chips also make it hard to see any glass or sharp objects, both of which I have found around the children's play equipment in the past. Parents need to be aware that hypodermic needles are left behind there from time to time. My friend (from Claremont no less!) found one only a month ago, so it's still a problem. If you find anything like this, be sure to report it to the police, as it serves to increase their patrol of the park. In general, I don't subscribe to the idea of a police state, but the druggies are going to do their thing where it is convenient, so if we make their life more difficult, they will move on.....to another park in Pomona probably. Lincoln Park is a safe park. I meet mothers from all over Pomona, who come to Lincoln Park because it is so safe. Often there's one or two transients sleeping on the grass, mostly because of the bathrooms and running water that are readily available at the park. Lincoln Park has a large oak tree to the west of the main play equipment, which casts shade on the west side of equipment in the morning to early afternoon. There's no shade tree on the south side, however, making mid day pretty brutal on hot days.

2. Jaycee Park is located on San Antonio at the 10 freeway. When I say at the freeway, I mean AT the freeway. It's a stone's throw to the south of the 10 freeway. In addition to the carbon monoxide exposure your kid will get, it's only got one shade tree, to the southwest of the equipment. That said, it's got brand new equipment, which is pretty fun. This park is host to a number of Mommy and Me classes this summer, including the bilingual ones we plan to attend, so I won't need to worry about Mr. Big not getting enough carbon monoxide or vitamin D exposure in the coming months.

3. Civic Center Park is located just outside the library and city hall. Over time, I've come to the realization that this is a park in name only. Let's see, we've been asked to leave the park so a City worker could weed wack between the cement tiles; I accidentally stepped on a sharp grouting tool a City park worker had left behind another day; my son and his friends were asked by security (AKA "flower patrol") to get out of the garlic flowers, which contain a favorite pathway for the kids; and, another time we happened upon the City spraying herbicides just as we were leaving the library after the City-sponsored storytime. All this, while the homeless people slept undisturbed on the nearby grass. The only people who think this is a park are the children.

In nearby San Dimas is a huge county park: Frank G. Bonneli Regional Park. It's located just above the Fairplex, so it's practically in Pomona. Bonelli has I think 5 different sets of play equipment, which contain different features than you usually see on play equipment like giant (fake) ice cubes and a clothesline-like glider. There's no charge to get in during the cooler months, but that changes come summer to I think an $8 entrance fee (boo hiss). I have never been on the weekends and don't know how crowded it gets. On the weekdays, you pretty much have the lay of the land (and those 5 different sets of play equipment, which are spaced about 200 feet apart). Bonelli's equestrian center has horse back riding and lessons at: http://bonelliparkhorses.com/index.html Then there's Lake Puddingstone for swimming or fishing. If you're interested in the origin of the name Puddingstone, read this: http://www.sandimasnews.com/history/14.html

Due to formatting issues, I've had to split this post up into three parts. You can post about your own experience with Pomona parks in the comments section of this post.

Parks: The Good, the Bad and the Shady - Part II

As one would expect, Claremont has lots of parks too. They have all of theirs listed together on their website at: http://www.ci.claremont.ca.us/ps.leisurerecreation.cfm?ID=27

I've been to 3 of them:

1. Memorial Park in Claremont is my husband's favorite and where he always takes Mr. Big. The equipment is designed for toddlers, not older kids. It's small enough that you can spot your child without having to get on the equipment, or take chances. It's not that elaborate, but kids don't seem to get bored of it. Often the main equipment is in the shade, although some of the amenities are not (a concrete climbing animal for instance gets red hot most days). A little bit of sand, combined with rubber. This is the same park that houses the bombshell where the summer music concerts are held, as well as the toddler wading pool. fyi, Claremont posts it's upcoming events on a banner above Indian Hill just across from the park.

2. Larkin Park in Claremont is my personal favorite because it is the only park I have found that provides adequate shade. A large tree, whose retaining wall serves as excellent seating for us parents, showers the play equipment with shade the vast majority of the day. Plus, the park is completely gated for those of you whose children like to dash off on a moment's notice (raising my hand here). It's located at 600 N. Mountain, that's at the corner of Harrison and Mountain, which is between Indian Hill and Towne.

3. College Park A.K.A. Pooch Park in Claremont is okay. Not shady. Parking can be tough if there's an event going on at the baseball fields. But the dog park is right next door, so canine owners can kill two birds with one stone. There is often a group of ruffians smoking at the benches (within breathing room of some of the play equipment). Never very crowded. One piece of the play equipment is shaped like a train, for the train obsessed. You can hear, but not see, passing trains from the play area. It's located at 100 S. College, just above Arrow Hwy.

La Verne has several parks as well. I've been to 2. Check out their website's listing for the rest of them, complete with jazzy 180 degree photographs: http://www.ci.la-verne.ca.us/chrschpk.shtml

1. Lordsburg Park is located in the Latino section of the City. Yes, they do have one, and almost on the other side of the railroad tracks from the rest of the town, but not quite. To get there you go down Fairplex from Arrow Highway and turn right on the first street (Walnut). It's located about two blocks down on the left, between "C" and "A" Streets. This park scores high marks with me for the squeaky clean sand, stylish landscaping and unobstructed view of passing trains. We have never seen anyone else at this park besides ourselves during the weekdays,which is a shame, since this is a nice place to hang out. As for the origin of the park's name, the original name of LaVerne was Lordsburg.

2. Kuns Park is located in LaVerne's historic district at 1600 Bonita. It's a beautiful setting, much like Lincoln Park. It is bound on one side by a busy street, but the play equipment is on the opposite side. Big party place on the weekends. LaVerne's oldest tree is there.

Post about other non-Pomona parks in this comments section.

Parks: The Good, the Bad and the Shady - Part III

A word of caution: most cities (including Pomona and Claremont) spray herbicides at their parks. They usually spray in the early morning and do not leave any signage or other indication that they have done so. Pomona uses the chemical equivalent of Roundup, which unfortunately many private citizens use too. At Lincoln Park, they spray the tree wells and walkways, which includes all around the outside of the wood chip area.

Just because Roundup is widely sold in stores does not mean it's safe for children or animals. In fact, Monsanto, the corporation that manufactures Roundup, was sued successfully by the attorney general of New York for misleading and false statements on Roundup's packaging, specifically it's claims of being safe for people and the environment. To read the legal relief granted to the State of New York, click here:

http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Monsanto-v-AGNYnov96.htm

Keep in mind, that Monsanto was only forced to change their labels/safety claims in New York, not in California.

Additionally, while the current law in California requires that schools give 48 hours before using these sprays, there are no such constraints at parks (even tho they're populated by younger and more vulnerable children). Cities are allowed to spray without any warning at parks whatsoever.If you are doubtful about whether these herbicides are bad for adults, children and animals, read these abstracts: www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/2002/RoundupGlyphosateAbstracts.htm.

For a full overview of Roundup's toxicity, go to: http://www.naturescountrystore.com/roundup/

One worker in Claremont that I saw spraying Larkin Park told me he was spraying water. When I questioned him further, his co-worker came over and told me that it was Roundup. The guy spraying it didn't even know what it was he was spraying.

If your kid has the misfortune of playing in an area that has been sprayed, and if your kid is particularly sensitive that day or over time (there can be a cumulative effect too), your child may suffer temporary or permanent health problems because of a trip/s to the park. Sorry to make this post a downer, but since discovering what a potential problem this is, I'm obligated to pass along the information. I've got a letter into the City of Pomona about this, and will keep you posted as to what changes are made.

In summary, the good is that there's lots of choices when it comes to parks in our area. The bad is this whole herbicide thing. And as for "The Shady," well there's only a handful of parks around here that adequately protect our children from the sun. Perhaps we as parents need to lobby cities to plant additional shade trees or other forms of shade producers (like the netting I've seen recently).

Okay, your turn now.